schneider



(No Model.)

, Patented Deo. 27,1881.

T E L E P H 0 N E N. PETERS. Pxmmrulnngmphur. wnslnnlan. D. c.

J. H. ROGERS 8v C. G. SCHNEIDER.

JAMES H. ROGERS AND CHRISTIAN G PATENT CEEIcia SCHNEIDER, 0F WASHINGTON, D. C.,

ASSIGNORS TO HAYVVARD M. HUTCHINSON, OF SAME PLACE.

TELEP HONE.

SPECIFICATION forming partl of Letters Patent No. 251,465, dated December 27, 1881.

Application filed June 14, 1881. (No model.) y

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that we, JAMES HARRIS RoGERs and CHRISTIAN G. ScIINElDER, citizens of the United States, both residing at Washington,

5 in the county ot' lVashington and District of Columbia,haveinventedlmprovenientsin Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to telephones in which Io audible signals are conveyed by sound-waves or similar vibrations or undulations in a Vgaseous fluid confined within pipes or tubes vof moderate size-as, for example, the gas-pipes of a building.

I5 The tirst part of our invention is a call-sig- `nal device consisting of a receiving-membrane actuating a bell-hammer orequivalent sounder, a transmitting-membrane so arranged as to adapt it to be actuated by a sudden concussion zo of air or of a solid body, and a pipe or pipes connecting the transmitter and receiver, containing gas through which sound-waves or equivalent Vibrations can be communicated from the transmitting to the receiving mem- 2 5 brane, so as to actuate the bell-hammer, as

hereinafter described.

Our invention further consists in a springcap covering and protecting the transmitting- Inembrane and adapted, when drawn and re- 3o leased, to impart the required impulse to the membrane through the medium of the air confined between said cap and membrane, as herein after described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is '35 a sectional diagram of a telephonie apparatus,

illustrating the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on a larger scale of the transmitting-instrument and its spring-cap. Fig. 8 is a section illustrating a modifica-tion in the construction 4o ot' the spring-cap.

A represents a transmitting membrane stretched within a suitable mouth-piece, B, connected with a pipe, C, to contain a conned body of any aerit'orm fluid-as, for exam- 4 5 ple,illuminatin g-gas-the invention being well adapted for use in connection with the ordinary gas-pipes of a house, as described in an earlier application of J. H. Rogers.

rIhe signaling-instrument is shown at D,con

5o sisting of a membrane, E, the interior surface of which is in.contact with the gas Within the pipe C. On or against the exterior surface of the membrane E rests thc hammer F of a bell, G, so that a sudden impulse imparted to the membrane E will be communicated to the hammer and cause it to strike the bell.

In operation the transmitting-mcmbrane A is actuated by concussion, which may be produced through the confined body ot air within the mouth of' the bell B by striking the palm of the hand over said bell; or it may be produced by striking the membrane itself with the end ot' the finger or with any suitable instrument. l"lhe'eftect of this sudden concussion against the membrane A is to impart vibrations to the gas contined within the pipe C similar to sound-waves, and these vibrations are communicated to a receiving-mem brane, E, with sufficient force to actuate the bell-hammer, as above described, or any other suitable mechanical sounder which may he employed instead thereof.

Compression of air in tubes has been used to sta-rt an alarm or to give a signal at a dis tant point. Our invention differs essentially from this in that we produce vibrations similar to sound-waves, and thereby deliver, by means of the hammer in contact with the receivingdiaphragm,a sudden blow. The fact that compression ot the Vair fails to eti'ect this result may be explained by the elasticity of the medium.

The invention is applicable not only to gaspipes, but to any pipes or tubes of moderate size wherein any aerit'orm tluid may be confined.

Ihe transmitting-membrane A is preferably made from the entrail or bladder ot' a hog or other animal, as we have described in another application for Letters Patent of even date herewith.

The receiving-membrane E maybe of metal, this material being sufficiently sensitive to act on the bell-hammer with good effect, and being preferable for use in a call-signal on account of the necessity of its, being in const-ant communication or contact with the gas, and being constantly depended on to confine the latter within the pipes, owing to the necessity of the call-signal being at all times at the command of parties desiring to communicate from a distant point.

A suitable cap, H, is employed to cover the membrane A and protect it from injury. In

Fig. 2 we have shown such a cap composed of IOO soft rubber, With a knob, I, by which it may be drawn out and suddenly released so as to impart a sudden vibration to the membrane A. The'cap H is provided with a. hinge, J, for turning it out ofthe way to give access to the membrane 'when it is to be used for speaking or hearing. Fig. 3 shows a cap, H, provided with a similar hinge, J, and a separate spring, K, by which the same effect may be produced with a rigid cap.

It will be observed that Fig. 1 represents two stations-supposed to be loca-ted in different apartments, with Walls W W between them, each having a'speaking and hearing instrument, A B, and a sigualing-instrument, D, shown in section at one station and in elevation at the other. rIhe instrument A B is in each case used for transmitting call-signals as Well as for speaking and hearing7 and the adjacent instrument, D, at each station for receiving call signals.

Having thus described our invention, the following is what we claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Pat-ent.:

l. In a telephonie apparatus in which signuls are conveyed by sound-waves or analogous undulations in gas confined in pipes or tubes, the combination of a. transmitting-inembr-ane to impart the required vibrations or undulations to the gas, a receiving-membrane acted on by such vibrations, and a bell-hammer or other mechanical sounder actuated by the impulse imparted to the receiving-membrane by the undulations produced in the gas by the transmitting-membrane, substantially as set forth.

2. In a telephonie apparatus in which signals or communications are conveyed by gas confined in pipes or tubes, the combination of a transmittingmembrane and a cap having a spring' to adapt it, when pulled and released, to impart a sudden impulse to the transmittingmembrane, so as to produce vibration in the confined gas.

J. H. ROGERS. CHRISTIAN G. SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses:

OoTAVrUs KNIGHT, HARRY E. KNIGHT. 

